I’m really hesitant to do this, but I’m gonna lay it on you. I’ve been a fan of music for well over 40 years. Narrowing down a favorite anything is really difficult. My list of favorite songs probably numbers near 1,000, and that’s just favorites, not all the songs I ‘just like.’ But, most days, if you ask me my favorite song of all time, it’s this one.
The Seventy Sevens have had an extremely long career, with roots going as back as the late 70s/early 80s in a Sacramento church-based band called the Scratch Band. They’ve dabbled in punk (briefly), new wave, blues rock, jam band, alternative, rock and roll (even the album art for Sticks and Stones was a nod to Little Richard), classic pop, hard rock, and explored many themes along the way. Members have also also played in Christian roots/folk supergroup Lost Dogs, The Strawmen, mainstream new wave act Romeo Void, and several other side projects and solo outings.
In the end, it all comes down to Sticks and Stones–the album that wasn’t even meant to be an album. It’s a collection of b-sides and leftover tracks, hence the album title. Although I like several other albums by the band, this is by far their strongest collection of songs, in my humble opinion. And “Don’t This Way” is the stellar track. This pop-rock song about death, grief, and lost love is the pinnacle of the album. While the lyrics pine away about a love that will never get to be, the guitar riffs flow in and out, creating, repeating and recreating lines over and over and yet I never get bored. I’m not a guitarist myself but I can honestly mouth-guitar the whole 7 minutes and 40 seconds of this epic tune.
Click below to listen. But I warn you, you won’t likely remain the same music listener afterwards. Yeah, I said it.
My roommate owned Sticks & Stones when I first heard it in late 1991. It hit me hard, and I was compelled to share it’s brilliance with others immediately. That included, most notably, my would-be wife shortly after we started dating in early 1994. I will never forget “Don’t This Way” playing while we drove and looking over to see her crying. I hadn’t told her it was about death, but I realized in that moment, less than a year and a half after her Mom had died, that the immense sadness and biting words had caused her to weep.… Read more »
What an incredible story of loss, grief, and the comfort of music. Thank you for sharing with us. I’m terribly sorry to hear about what you and your wife went through, and I hope you are finding hope and comfort afterwards.
On a side note, you have a way with words. If you are not a writer, you should consider it–even as a hobby!
I dig the 7’s as well. First heard Sticks and Stones in ’95 when I borrowed it from my local library (strange that they had it). All us old guys should hang out sometime when The Situation is over. 🙂
Nice!
Also my favorite song all time/all genres. I hesitate as well to have favorites. But this??? This is something much more than a song.
One of my favorite bands and it’s also one of my fav songs! Keep up the good work IVM.